Twinkle, Little Star – An interview with Philip Meeks (Writer)

Hi Philip

 

Hi

 

So, why don’t you tell us a little about your new play Twinkle, Little Star, why should people go see it?

 

It’s about a man who’s life has taken several unfortunate turns for the worse. He’s become obsolete but because he’s a survivor he refuses to give in to this fact and he’s decided to fight back.  He’s a man kicking seventy, he’s gay and as one of the last great pantomime dames he’s had an ineteresting life.  Although the play contains lots of theatrical bravado and fruity anecdotes this isn’t what it’s about. Harold’s fears and isolation are things that I think terrify us all deep down.  The moment when it all goes wrong!    In its Nottingham run and tour we found it appealed to a huge cross section of people. From young theatre goers to the elderly – and none of them seemed remotely shocked by Harold’s dabblings in public toilets in the fifties.  We did have a family turn up in Wakefield expecting a pantomime but even they seemed quite happy at the end.  There was a six year old with them however – and it’s really not a play for children – I’d expect there’d be a few awkward questions on the way home in the car. The main reason to see it of course is the production – which I couldn’t be happier with, and Kenneth Alan Taylor’s staggering performance.

 

Sounds really exciting. I was lucky enough to see the play in Nottingham and it really is a very dark story, how did you come up with the idea for the play?

 

I was In Newcatsle on the day they were turning on the Christmas lights. I saw an advert for John Inman playing Twankey with some gurning loon off Big Brother. I know panto’s always adapted to include different forms of pupular culture – but I couldn’t think of anything less appropriate than this. So I started thinking what John Inman thought of the situation and by the time the lights were turned on I had the basic framework of the story.

 

Enough, for the moment about the play, tell us a little about yourself, how did you become a playwright?

 

I started quite late I suppose – I think I always wanted to be a writer but didn’t have it in me. I began teaching then worked in the arts and as a television publicist. When I arrived at YTV I had never imagined soaps for example were written. I think I thought they just ‘happened’. It’s really dim when I think back.Anyway one day the penny dropped and I decided to do it. Now I’ve met many people before or since who want to write but don’t actually put finger to keyboard.  I set myself two hours a day after work to begin with. I was very disciplined. Twinkle was the first thing I wrote…then I got an agent…and suddenly I had a new career. I gave myself five years to do it and di it in two and a half….not that it ever gets any easier.

 

And finally, what are your plans for the future, any more masterpieces in the pipeline?

 

Lots of ideas all mulling around. I’m not very disciplined about deciding which ones to concentrate on!

 

Philip Meeks,  thank you very much…